Vehicle low-load isolator spring suspension apparatus

Claim 2

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus comprising a yoke assembly having pivotally mounted therein an auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm, said lever arm having a lever arm reaction portion being disposed upwardly thereon with respect to a lever arm pivot means and comprising an upward extension of said lever arm having thereon on a front face thereof a spring means abutment member, said lever arm further having backwardly disposed from said lever arm reaction portion a lever arm force application portion being backwardly disposed from said pivot means, said yoke assembly having forwardly disposed from said lever arm spring means abutment member and being axially aligned therewith, a stationary yoke spring means abutment member being fixedly attached to said yoke assembly, said spring means abutment members having interposed therebetween an auxiliary spring means providing a force directed backwardly from said stationary yoke spring means abutment member and against said lever arm spring means abutment member thereby forcing said lever arm force application member to pivot downwardly within said yoke assembly, said lever arm force application portion having on a rearward end thereof a wear block member being upwardly and downwardly movable within a rear portion yoke assembly vehicle unsprung mass suspension member insertion member, said insertion member having on a top portion thereof an upper lever arm stop member and on a lower portion thereof a lower lever arm stop member and intermediate therebetween and being disposed downwardly with respect to said wear block member a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member insertion portion, said wear block having a lower surface thereof comprising a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment means for abutting against said suspension member upper rearward surface when said apparatus is installed on a vehicle, said suspension member being free to move in a direction parallel to a longintudinal axis of the vehicle and upwardly and downwardly with respect to said vehicle frame member within said yoke assembly rear portion limited by said wear block abutment surface and said lower lever arm stop member, said suspension member supplying an upward force against said wear block abutment member and thereby to said lever arm force application portion, the yoke assembly having on a top portion thereof a vehicle sprung mass portion frame member mounting means for mounting said apparatus to a frame member of said vehicle sprung mass portion, said portion comprising the vehicle body and parts connected to an upper portion of a suspension means, said apparatus to be mounted above a rearward portion of a rear portion of a vehicle suspension member.

Claim 3

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lever arm reaction portion is backwardly disposed from said pivot means.

Claim 4

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a lever arm force application portion length and a lever arm reaction portion length are such as to substantially provide a two to one lever mechanical advantage therebetween.

Claim 5

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rear portion yoke assembly vehicle unsprung mass suspension member insertion member is non-integral with said yoke assembly forming a two piece yoke assembly comprising a front yoke section beiNg similarly constructed to the forward portion of said yoke assembly as set forth in claim 1 and a back yoke section comprising the said insertion member thereof.

Claim 6

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle unsprung mass suspension member is a leaf spring wherein said leaf spring is mounted in an otherwise conventional manner on a vehicle having a front portion thereof being forward of a wheel axle being pivotally connected to a sprung mass frame member at a position forward with respect to said wheel axle.

Claim 7

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle unsprung mass suspension member is a solid bar comprising a rear portion of a vehicle unsprung mass mounting member being backwardly and upwardly disposed from said wheel axle, said mounting member having a front portion thereof being pivotally connected to a vehicle sprung mass frame member by a pivot means, and pivot means being forwardly disposed and upward therefrom with respect to said wheel axle.

Claim 8

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wear block is detachably connected to said lever arm rearward portion to permit replacement thereof.

Claim 9

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus comprising a yoke assembly having an inner yoke face plate and an outer yoke face plate and having fixedly connected therebetween a yoke spring means abutment member having thereon on an inner surface thereof a yoke spring means retainer, said inner and outer yoke face plates having at a lower rear yoke end being connected between said inner and outer yoke face plates, a lever arm pivot lower stop member, said inner and outer yoke face plates each having forwardly and centrally disposed thereon a pivot pin retainer means, said yoke face plates further having fixed attached thereto on a face plate top portion being oppositely disposed with respect to said lever arm pivot lower stop member an upper rear yoke portion lever arm stop member, said yoke assembly having on an upper portion thereof being on the outer faces thereof mounting means for attaching said yoke to a vehicle sprung mass frame member, said yoke assembly having pivotally mounted therein an auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm assembly further comprising an inner lever arm face plate, an outer lever arm face plate and having fixedly attached therebetween at a lever arm face plate front portion a pivot pin bearing member having a pivot pin inserted therethrough, said pivot pin extending through said bearing member and fixedly into said pivot pin retainer means of said yoke assembly, said inner and outer lever arm face plates further having fixedly connected therebetween on upper portions thereof and being backwardly disposed from said pivot pin bearing member a lever arm spring means abutment member having on a front face thereof a lever arm spring means retaining member, said lever arm face plates further having fixedly attached therebetween and being disposed backwardly from said spring means abutment member a wear block cavity front member and being backwardly disposed therefrom a wear block cavity rear member forming a wear block cavity in cooperation with inner and outer lever arm face plates, said cavity having replaceably inserted therein a wear block having a top portion thereof disposed upwardly from a top portion of said cavity front and rear members extending slightly above top surfaces thereof, said top surfaces of said front and rear cavity members being parallel with top surfaces of said inner and outer lever arm face plates, said wear block having a top surface lever arm upper stop member abutment surface and having a lower surface comprising a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member rear upper surface abutment member said lower survace extending below said wear block cavity of said lever arm, said wear block member being fixedly and detachably mounted within said wear block cavity, said lever arm spring means abutment member and said yoke spring means abutment member having detachably mounted therebetween an auxiliary spring means providing a force directed against said lever arm such that said auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm assembly is pivoted downwardly within said yoke assembly, said yoke rear portion having intermediate between said upper lever arm stop member and lever arm pivot lower stop member a vehicle unspring mass leaf spring rearward portion insertion cavity being below said wear block member, said wear block member coacting with a vehicle unsprung mass leaf spring when said leaf spring is inserted within said leaf spring insertion cavity, said leaf spring being otherwise connected to the vehicle unsprung mass in a conventional manner with a front portion of said leaf spring being forwardly disposed from a wheel axle and being pivotally connected to a vehicle sprung mass frame member.

Claim 10

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus comprising a yoke assembly having an inner yoke face plate and an outer yoke face plate and having fixedly connected therebetween a yoke spring means abutment member having thereon on an inner surface thereof a yoke spring means retainer, said inner and outer yoke face plates having at a lower rear yoke end being connected between said inner and outer yoke face plates, a lever arm pivot lower stop member, said inner and outer yoke face plates each having forwardly and centrally disposed thereon a pivot pin retainer means, said yoke face plates further having fixed attached thereto on a face plate top portion being oppositely disposed with respect to said lever arm pivot lower stop member an upper rear yoke portion lever arm stop member, said yoke assembly having on an upper portion thereof being on the outer faces thereof mounting means for attaching said yoke to a vehicle sprung mass frame member, said yoke assembly having pivotally mounted therein an auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm assembly further comprising an inner lever arm face plate, an outer lever arm face plate and having fixedly attached therebetween at a lever arm face plate front portion a pivot pin bearing member having a pivot pin inserted therethrough, said pivot pin extending through said bearing member and fixedly into said pivot pin retainer means of said yoke assembly, said inner and outer lever arm face plates further having fixedly connected therebetween on upper portions thereof and being backwardly disposed from said pivot pin bearing member a lever arm spring means abutment member having on a front face thereof a lever arm spring means retaining member, said lever arm face plates further having fixedly attached therebetween and being disposed backwardly from said spring means abutment member a wear block cavity front member and being backwardly disposed therefrom a wear block cavity rear member forming a wear block cavity in cooperation with inner and outer lever arm face plates, said cavity having replaceably inserted therein a wear block having a top portion thereof disposed upwardly from a top portion of said cavity front and rear members extending slightly above top surfaces thereof, said top surfaces of said front and rear cavity members being parallel with top surfaces of said inner and outer lever arm face plates, said wear block having a top surface lever arm upper stop member abutment surface and having a lower surface comprising a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member rear upper surface abutment member said lower survace extending below said wear block cavity of said lever arm, said wear block member being fixedly and detachably mounted within said wear block cavity, said lever arm spring means abutment member and said yoke spring means abutment member having detachably mounted therebetween an auxiliary spring means providing a force directed against said lever arm such that said auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm assembly is pivoted downwardly within said yoke assembly, said yoke rear portion having intermediate between said upper lever arm stop member and lever arm pivot lower stop member a vehicle unspring mass leaf spring rearward portion insertion cavity being below said wear block member, said wear block member coacting with a vehicle unsprung mass leaf spring when said leaf spring is inserted within said leaf spring insertion cavity, said leaf spring being otherwise connected to the vehicle unsprung mass in a conventional manner with a front portion of said leaf spring being forwardly disposed from a wheel axle and being pivotally connected to a vehicle sprung mass frame member.

Claim 11

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus comprising a first yoke means having a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means on a first yoke means upper portion and having pivot means on a lower portion thereof and having pivotally connected to said pivot means an auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm having backwardly disposed thereon from said pivot means an auxiliary spring means lever arm spring abutment member having located thereon a spring means retainer member, said lever arm having backwardly disposed from said spring means abutment member on a lever arm rearward portion on a lower surface thereof a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment member, said lever arm rearward portion and vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment member being movably upwardly and downwardly enclosed in a second yoke means, said second yoke means having therein in an upper portion thereof an upper lever arm stop member, said second yoke means having on an upper exterior portion thereof a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means, said second yoke means further having on a lower portion thereof a lower lever arm stop member, said second yoke means having a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member insertion opening therein being intermediate said unsprung mass suspension member abutment member and said lower lever arm stop member, said lever arm spring abutment member having removably inserted in spring means retainer an auxiliary spring means, said spring means having a lower end thereof inserted in said spring means retainer means, said auxiliary spring means having at an upper end thereof and being removably attached thereto an upper spring means retainer member being integral with an auxiliary spring means upper abutment member, said upper spring abutment member having a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means therewith for fixedly mounting said upper spring abutment member to a vehicle frame member, when mounted on a vehicle said rearward portion of said unsprung mass suspension member is inserted within said insertion opening in said second yoke means having a rear upper surface thereof in abutment with said lever arm suspension member abutment member, said suspension member thereby coacting with said lever arm and said auxiliary spring means, said suspension member being conventionally connected to said unsprung mass at a wheel axle and having a forward portion thereof being forwardly disposed with respect to said wheel axle being pivotally connected to vehicle sprung mass frame member.

Claim 12

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus comprising a first yoke means having a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means on a first yoke means upper portion and having pivot means on a lower portion thereof and having pivotally connected to said pivot means an auxiliary spring means actuating lever arm having backwardly disposed thereon from said pivot means an auxiliary spring means lever arm spring abutment member having located thereon a spring means retainer member, said lever arm having backwardly disposed from said spring means abutment member on a lever arm rearward portion on a lower surface thereof a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment member, said lever arm rearward portion and vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment member being movably upwardly and downwardly enclosed in a second yoke means, said second yoke means having therein in an upper portion thereof an upper lever arm stop member, said second yoke means having on an upper exterior portion thereof a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means, said second yoke means further having on a lower portion thereof a lower lever arm stop member, said second yoke means having a vehicle unsprung mass suspension member insertion opening therein being intermediate said unsprung mass suspension member abutment member and said lower lever arm stop member, said lever arm spring abutment member having removably inserted in spring means retainer an auxiliary spring means, said spring means having a lower end thereof inserted in said spring means retainer means, said auxiliary spring means having at an upper end thereof and being removably attached thereto an upper spring means retainer member being integral with an auxiliary spring means upper abutment member, said upper spring abutment member having a vehicle sprung mass frame member mounting means therewith for fixedly mounting said upper spring abutment member to a vehicle frame member, when mounted on a vehicle said rearward portion of said unsprung mass suspension member is inserted within said insertion opening in said second yoke means having a rear upper surface thereof in abutment with said lever arm suspension member abutment member, said suspension member thereby coacting with said lever arm and said auxiliary spring means, said suspension member being conventionally connected to said unsprung mass at a wheel axle and having a forward portion thereof being forwardly disposed with respect to said wheel axle being pivotally connected to vehicle sprung mass frame member.

Claim 13

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said lever arm rearward portion vehicle unsprung mass suspension member abutment member comprises a removable wear block.

Claim 14

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary spring means comprises a coil spring means of the compression type.

Claim 15

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary spring Means comprises a coil spring means of the compression type.

Claim 16

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the relationship between the rearward portion of the lever arm and the spring means abutment member with respect to the said pivot member provides a mechanical advantage of substantially two to one with respect to said suspension member abutment end of said lever arm.

Claim 17

A vehicle low load isolator spring suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first yoke means and said second yoke means are integral in arrangement said second yoke means forming a rearward portion of said integral yoke means.